Advice regarding 1986 110 defender

Coldstream69 · Jan 28, 2014

Morning all, please could I have some advice about buying a 1986 2.5 N/A 110 defender? I currently have a 2000RR P38 but my wife wants a basic landie without the electrical gremlins of the RR. The 110 is an ex Mod lwb and in good nick with 155,000 on the clock. My wife has horses and I do a lot of shooting. I am sure I will be fine off road shooting but will the N/A 2.5 engine cope with pulling 2 horses in a ifor Williams 510 box? Not worried about how fast we get up hills as long as it gets up them. I am also not too worried about fuel as the RR 4.6 is currently returning 15.9 mpg 😳. I really asking for a review of the 110 defender. All advice welcomed, thanks Marc

Oldseadog · Jan 28, 2014

A 2.5 N/A will handle everything you care to throw at it ... just as long as you don't expect a racing machine and compare it with a Rangie!

I certainly wouldn't change mine, which tows and launches a 2 1/2 ton boat.

landowner · Jan 28, 2014

I have also towed with 2.5 n/a and its fine, just take your time.

You may be surprised

RodneyA · Jan 28, 2014

The NAD is a good engine when taken well care off, just don't expect speed with it.

flat · Jan 28, 2014

yep second everyone, the 2.5na is a good engine just not the quickest, once its rolling though its fine and the military ones have a slightly lower first gear to to aid pulling off

Coldstream69 · Jan 28, 2014

Thanks guy, that put the mind at rest. In the words of Terry Wogan...slow and steady wins the day&#55357;&#56841;

zeaphod · Jan 28, 2014

It's worth checking the 110 has power steering. My 1985 90 doesn't.
It might be a bit of a shock after the RR. It's fine, just heavy. If you've driven a series you'll know what to expect.

RodneyA · Jan 28, 2014

Just make sure the engine is sound, follow the usual checks, blue smoke, excessive smoking, pressure and or smoke coming from oil filler cap, oil inside the water reservoir.

I never done these checks when buying mine and I found out 6 months later that I had bent push rods and 4 cracked pistons due to a suspected cam belt snap.

Burtie2904 · Jan 28, 2014

Coldstream69 said:
Morning all, please could I have some advice about buying a 1986 2.5 N/A 110 defender? I currently have a 2000RR P38 but my wife wants a basic landie without the electrical gremlins of the RR. The 110 is an ex Mod lwb and in good nick with 155,000 on the clock. My wife has horses and I do a lot of shooting. I am sure I will be fine off road shooting but will the N/A 2.5 engine cope with pulling 2 horses in a ifor Williams 510 box? Not worried about how fast we get up hills as long as it gets up them. I am also not too worried about fuel as the RR 4.6 is currently returning 15.9 mpg &#55357;&#56883;. I really asking for a review of the 110 defender. All advice welcomed, thanks Marc

The ex Mod cars are well looked after but are run very hard so some of them are not going to keep going for much longer.

flat · Jan 28, 2014

Burtie2904 said:
The ex Mod cars are well looked after but are run very hard so some of them are not going to keep going for much longer.

and at that point just dump a 200tdi in

sp00k · Jan 28, 2014

110 ex-mod will have a 1.6 transfer box in. Cruising speed on the flat will be around 50-55. Top speed with the engine screaming will be 60-65.

I'm looking at changing my transfer box as I now have a 200 TDI in mine and 4000 RPM buys me about 65. I don't really want to go faster than that, but it would be nice to cruise at under 3000 and be able to hear myself think.

sp00k · Jan 28, 2014

flat said:
and at that point just dump a 200tdi in

...and a new transfer box. Standard Defender 1.4 might be better if doing a lot of towing. I'm going to try a 1.2 and see how I get on as I don't tow.

flat · Jan 28, 2014

sp00k said:
...and a new transfer box. Standard Defender 1.4 might be better if doing a lot of towing. I'm going to try a 1.2 and see how I get on as I don't tow.

My military 90 has a 1.4, did they fit different x-fer boxes to 90s and 110s?

landowner · Jan 28, 2014

sp00k said:
...and a new transfer box. Standard Defender 1.4 might be better if doing a lot of towing. I'm going to try a 1.2 and see how I get on as I don't tow.

I.2 ok if you use disco size tyres, any bigger and the extra gearing is too much, I only get in 5th when on the motorway

Pikey · Jan 28, 2014

flat said:
and at that point just dump a 200tdi in

300TDI is a better swap and easier...

Coldstream69 · Jan 29, 2014

RodneyA said:
Just make sure the engine is sound, follow the usual checks, blue smoke, excessive smoking, pressure and or smoke coming from oil filler cap, oil inside the water reservoir.

I never done these checks when buying mine and I found out 6 months later that I had bent push rods and 4 cracked pistons due to a suspected cam belt snap.

Sound advice that I have often forgotten when buying cars over the years. Thanks for the reminder, my wife will love it if there's no pas.

trax · Jan 29, 2014

RodneyA said:
Just make sure the engine is sound, follow the usual checks, blue smoke, excessive smoking, pressure and or smoke coming from oil filler cap, oil inside the water reservoir.

I never done these checks when buying mine and I found out 6 months later that I had bent push rods and 4 cracked pistons due to a suspected cam belt snap.

i thought the usual checks where... go prepared to check everything.. see it, get excited, forget to check anything, drive away ten miles and then think... oh f**k!

sp00k · Jan 29, 2014

landowner said:
I.2 ok if you use disco size tyres, any bigger and the extra gearing is too much, I only get in 5th when on the motorway

I'm running standard military 7.50R16 XZL tyres. They are pretty tall, hopefully they will be ok.

Gearing at the moment is mental - I'm in 5th gear at 30mph, then carry on in same up to 60+.

Also as it's a military gearbox, I've got the lower 1st and 2nd gears, so I would imagine setting off and towing will be fine. As it is, I can't use 1st to set off, except on very steep hills as it's just too low.

flat said:
My military 90 has a 1.4, did they fit different x-fer boxes to 90s and 110s?

It would make sense - a 110 is a lot heavier than a 90 and more likely to have a towing function.

trax · Jan 29, 2014

sp00k said:
I'm running standard military 7.50R16 XZL tyres. They are pretty tall, hopefully they will be ok.

Gearing at the moment is mental - I'm in 5th gear at 30mph, then carry on in same up to 60+.

Also as it's a military gearbox, I've got the lower 1st and 2nd gears, so I would imagine setting off and towing will be fine. As it is, I can't use 1st to set off, except on very steep hills as it's just too low.

It would make sense - a 110 is a lot heavier than a 90 and more likely to have a towing function.

i've got a 2.25d, lt77,1.6tbox, 7.50r16 in a 110. 3rd gets to 30 and it can get to 60+ in fifth.. although downhill or flat

sp00k · Jan 29, 2014

trax said:
i've got a 2.25d, lt77,1.6tbox, 7.50r16 in a 110. 3rd gets to 30 and it can get to 60+ in fifth.. although downhill or flat

What's your comfortable cruising speed on the flat? I used to feel that 50 and 55 were the kindest with my 2.5 N/A.

Advice regarding 1986 110 defender

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